Sports Afield Safes New Quick Access Side Mount Handgun Vault

SA Consumer Products, manufacturer of in-home secure storage products, is thrilled to spotlight their brand-new Sports Afield vault – the Home Defense Side Mount Quick Access Handgun Vault.

Since its establishment in 1887, the Sports Afield brand has consistently provided a genuine experience for more than 135 years. Today, Sports Afield stands out as one of the fastest growing outdoor sporting goods brands in North America. Drawing inspiration from this rich heritage, the Sports Afield collection of safes, cabinets and vaults incorporates innovative and feature-packed designs, resulting in durable and top-notch products that showcase a timeless appeal, capturing the essence of the outdoor enthusiasts who have contributed to the brand’s success.

Keep your handgun securely stored and by your side with the Sports Afield Quick Access Handgun Vault. This vault uses your fingerprint as the passcode to your firearm. Read more

Firearms

Maryland Catfish Tournaments Offer Invasive Species Angling

With record catches around the country tipping the scales at more than a hundred pounds, blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) have become quite the draw for anglers in the Chesapeake Bay. Introduced in the 1970s as a recreational fishing target species in Virginia, invasive blue catfish populations have grown rapidly in Maryland waters.

As commercial harvests of blue catfish have risen exponentially, recreational fishing for the species is becoming more popular as a way to enjoy a day angling as well as bring plenty of fish home for dinner. Commercial landings of blue catfish have grown from 609,525 pounds in 2013 to 4.2 million pounds in 2023, more than a 500% increase in the past decade. The fish is increasingly showing up on menus and in grocery stores, helping it to become more appealing as table fare.

This year, avid anglers can fill their calendars with tournaments to try to catch the biggest and most blue catfish. There are no fishing restrictions on the species. In fact, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is urging anglers to catch as many blue catfish as possible and remove them from the water. Blue catfish stomach studies have determined the invasive fish are eating large quantities of native species such as white perch and blue crabs and harming the overall ecosystem. Read more

Fishing

Firearm Industry Economic Impact Rises 371% Since 2008

The total economic impact of the firearm and ammunition industry in the United States increased from $19.1 billion in 2008 to $90.05 billion in 2023, a 371 percent increase, while the total number of full-time equivalent jobs rose from approximately 166,000 to over 384,437, a 131 percent increase in that period, according to a report released by the NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association. Read more

Firearms

Have Fish, Will Travel: Creating Fishing Opportunities Statewide

Have you seen fish stocking trucks on the road this spring? If not, chances are you soon will! Our stocking season is underway, and this time of year you’ll find DNR trucks releasing their prized cargo at hundreds of lakes and streams throughout the state.

Fish stocking is a valuable tool fisheries managers use for different reasons, including:

  • Restoring ecosystem balance.
  • Providing diverse fishing opportunities.
  • Rehabilitating low fish populations.
  • Reintroducing extirpated (locally extinct) species.

The DNR does not stock on top of wild populations when it can be avoided. Fish production staff members take great pride in the quality of the fish they produce, but when feasible prefer to rely on naturally reproducing fish that are adapted to their local ecosystem. Read more

Fishing

Talladega Marksmanship Park to Hold Steyr Academy Courses in April

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has announced it will be hosting several informative Steyr firearm courses in April, all available at the Talladega Marksmanship Park in Alabama.

Steyr Arms, Inc. is a firearms manufacturer with over 150 years of innovation. A world-renowned leader, the company specializes in products that are often utilized by military and law enforcement, due to their incomparable reliability standards.

As a subsidiary to their production division, Steyr Academy trains individuals on practical uses of firearms through valuable instruction, led by Brian Marshall, a 28-year veteran of local and federal law enforcement with two decades of instructor experience.

Two Steyr courses held at Talladega in April will be held on the covered firing points at the 100, 200, 300 and 600 yards, using CMP’s electronic target lines. The classes will also fire on Talladega’s unknown distance range. These courses include: Read more

Firearms

Two Mid-April Events for Bird Lovers in Northern Michigan

Birding in Michigan during spring migration is a big deal, with hundreds of species to search for, endless opportunities to catch sight of them and plenty of people who enjoy the chance to talk all things birds! Mark your calendar for two events coming up Thursday, April 18.

Birds & Brews in Marquette

If you’re up for a special evening of bird trivia, conversation about how public lands support birds and the chance to win a door prize – all while enjoying a complimentary (alcoholic or nonalcoholic) drink – join the Laughing Whitefish Bird Alliance and MI Birds at Birds & Brews, 7 p.m. at Ore Dock Brewing Company, 114 W. Spring St. in Marquette.

This is a family-friendly event, with coloring sheets and crayons provided. Door prizes include binoculars, a book on gardening for birds, and coffee and chocolate donated by local businesses. Registration is not required. We hope to see you there! (More than a hundred people attended the 2023 event, pictured above).

Woodcock Walk near Gladwin

If an outdoor adventure is more your speed, head to the Lame Duck Foot Access Area near Gladwin, one of the DNR’s Grouse Enhancement Management Sites, for a guided Woodcock Walk led by DNR staff and partners from the Ruffed Grouse Society. This GEMS location is one of the best places to view male American woodcock doing their quirky spring mating dance. Read more

Wildlife

Fourth Consecutive Record Count of Bighorn Sheep

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 2023 bighorn sheep survey, completed by recounting lambs in March, revealed a record 364 bighorn sheep in the grasslands of western North Dakota, up 5% from 2022 and 16% above the five-year average. The count surpassed the previous record of 347 bighorns in 2022.

Altogether, biologists counted 106 rams, 202 ewes and 56 lambs. Not included are approximately 40 bighorn sheep in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and bighorns introduced to the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in 2020.

Big game biologist Brett Wiedmann was pleased to see an increase in the survey for the sixth consecutive year.

The northern badlands population increased 5% from 2022 and was the highest count on record. The southern badlands population dropped to its lowest level since bighorns were reintroduced there in 1966. Read more

Wildlife

NBEF’s Black Bear Shot Placement Aids

RAPID CITY, SD – Empowering bowhunters with knowledge and tools for success, the National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) offers its Advanced Black Bear Anatomy and Shot Placement Guide and Mini 3-D Durable Foam Bear Model. These informative items help increase hunting success and safety for all hunters. Bear hunters will reduce game recovery time with a well-placed shot.

The Advanced Black Bear Anatomy and Shot Placement Guide is an informative shot placement training aid with full color 8.5″ x 11″ transparent overlays. The bear muscular system, skeletal system, circulatory system, and vital organs are illustrated on separate acrylic overlays. The booklet includes shot placement information and illustrations for both firearm hunters and bowhunters. Hunting guides, hunter education instructors and informed hunters will appreciate this useful information in a convenient format. Responsible hunting includes knowledge of accurate shot placement for a quick kill and game recovery. This is part of the International Bowhunter Education Program Hunter Responsibility Series which includes anatomy and shot placement guides for white-tailed deer, turkey and elk. All guides are 3-hole punched making it easy to collect all four booklets. Suggested retail $12.50 each. Read more

Hunting

Mission First Tactical Official Supporter of 2024 Best Ranger Competition

Horsham, PA –– Mission First Tactical (MFT) is proud to announce they are official supporters of the 2024 Best Ranger Competition, hosted by the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade. The event is held Friday, April 12th through Sunday, April 14th, 2024 at Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), GA.

This year marks the 40th annual celebration of this grueling competition. The Best Ranger is an annual event comprised of two-man teams. This competition is not just to see who is the toughest or the most physically fit; it is to see who is mentally the strongest and the most determined to finish. This 62-hour battle involves tests of physical fitness, including runs and marches, and marksmanship. The exact composition of events changes yearly. Read more

General

NASP and Easton Technical Products Announce the 2024 Academic Archer Program Results

The National Archery in the Schools Program and Easton Technical Products celebrate the highest number of Academic Archer nominations ever recorded with 40,163 Academic Archers being nominated by their coaches for the 2023/2024 school year. According to the results of the 2017 NASP® student survey, 40.15% of students indicated that participation in NASP® motivated them to want to work harder in the classroom. Knowing this, NASP® and Easton continue to promote the mission of NASP® educators everywhere! NASP® and Easton care about the academic success of NASP® students.

NASP® coaches again utilized local criteria to nominate their deserving students. Registration for the Academic Archer program began back on September 1, 2023, and concluded on April 1, 2024. NASP® educators and coaches from 48 US states, and 4 Canadian Provinces enrolled students in the NASP® Academic Archer Program this school year. Students who earn this honor through their hard work in the classroom are recognized at national events and through recognition programs at many local schools.

Based on feedback from NASP® state coordinators, NASP® added multiple pathways for NASP® educators and coaches to nominate students. Students can be designated by their local Basic Archery Instructor (BAI) via any of the following: Read more

Archery
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